Research and development support for advanced engineering
The UK’s research infrastructure is sophisticated and well developed, in both academia and the private sector.
Many businesses have their own R&D operations.
Research infrastructure
Catapult network
The Catapult Network has 9 innovation centres across 40 locations in the UK. In each centre, businesses, scientists, technical specialists and engineers work together on late-stage research and development.
The High Value Manufacturing Catapult works through 7 organisations. Find out more on their websites:
- National Manufacturing Institute Scotland, consisting of the Advanced Forming Research Centre and Lightweight Manufacturing Centre, both based in Glasgow
- Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre in Rotherham (Yorkshire), with other centres in Preston and North Wales.
- Centre for Process Innovation in North East England (Wilton, Darlington, Sedgefield, Newton Aycliffe) and Glasgow, Scotland.
- Manufacturing Technology Centre in Coventry (Midlands), with other centres in Liverpool and Oxford.
- National Composites Centre in Bristol (South West England)
- Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre in Rotherham.
- WMG is a leading centre for vehicle electrification and connected and autonomous vehicles, based at University of Warwick, in the Midlands.
Major UK research organisations
Find specific projects and detailed information on the work of research organisations on the websites listed below.
Manufacturing
- Lightweight Manufacturing Centre
- Sensor City
- Virtual Engineering Centre
- Institute for Advanced Manufacturing
- Institute for Manufacturing
Materials
- Future Continuous Manufacturing and Advanced Crystallisation Research Hub
- Future Manufacturing Hub in Manufacture using Advanced Powder Processes
- Future Composites Manufacturing Hub
- Future Liquid Metal Engineering Hub
- Future Biomanufacturing Research Hub
Robotics
Research resources
Online resources
Konfer is an online tool that uses smart matching technology to connect UK universities and businesses.
UK Research and Innovation’s Gateway to Research website gives information on current and past UK research projects, including publications, outcomes and contacts.
National research schemes
Organisations and schemes such as Innovate UK and its parent body, UK Research and Innovation (the public body supporting research and innovation across all sectors) can help you. The body also brings together the UK’s research councils, such as the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and the Science and Technology Facilities Council.
Find out more about UK Research Councils and their funding opportunities on the UKRI website
UK Research and Innovation’s Gateway to Research website gives information on current and past UK research projects, including publications, outcomes and contacts.
Find out more about help for R&D in our guide to incentives, funding and support in the UK.
Tax relief for innovative advanced engineering companies
The UK tax system provides strong backing for engineering entrepreneurs and their investors.
R&D tax reliefs for innovative advanced engineering companies
You can claim corporation tax relief if you are working on an innovative project in science and technology that meets the UK government’s definition of R&D.
There are 2 main types of R&D tax reliefs:
- small and medium enterprise (SME) R&D relief, for companies with less than 500 staff
- R&D expenditure credit, for larger companies
Get guidance on R&D tax relief on GOV.UK
Capital allowances
If your advanced engineering business is investing in plant and machinery, you may be eligible for generous first year tax reliefs of up to 100% of the cost of these.
Find out more about capital allowances and how to claim them on GOV.UK
Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) and Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS)
EIS and SEIS are UK government schemes that help you if you’re a younger, higher-risk businesses raising finance. They offer generous tax reliefs of between 30% to 50%.
Find out more about the Enterprise Investment Scheme and the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme on GOV.UK.
Funding opportunities for advanced engineering companies
Specific opportunities that could benefit your business include:
- Industrial Energy Transformation Fund – this supports the development and deployment of technologies that enable businesses with high energy use to transition to a low carbon future.
- Smart Sustainable Plastic Packaging Challenge – provides funding for projects driving cleaner growth across the UK’s plastics, packaging and retail supply chains
- Global Challenges Research Fund – a £1.5 billion fund to support research that addresses the challenges faced by developing countries.
- UK Research and Innovation Challenge Fund – across four theme: clean growth, ageing society, future of mobility and AI and the data economy
Private equity and venture capital
With a mature and highly sophisticated capital market, the UK is both a leading destination and source of capital investment for advanced engineering.
Find out about the opportunities available in our guide, Access to Finance